Media Contact: Ken Strobeck, Executive Director League of Arizona Cities and Towns 602‐258‐5786 [email protected] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 19, 2015 STATE LEGISLATORS TO BE HONORED BY THE LEAGUE OF ARIZONA CITIES AND TOWNS DURING ANNUAL CONFERENCE TUCSON — The League of Arizona Cities and Towns will honor 47 members of the Arizona Legislature for their work during the 2015 legislative session at the organization’s annual conference on Thursday, August 20 in Tucson. The legislators are being recognized for their commitment to local government decision making and providing support to cities and towns in their districts and statewide. “We are pleased to honor these legislators for their service to Arizona,” said Tempe Mayor and League President Mark Mitchell. “They are devoted supporters of cities and towns, understanding that municipalities are most effective when they are able to make the decisions that will directly impact those people who live, work and play within their communities.” The League’s legislative agenda includes two basic core principles: commitment to local decision‐making by the elected leaders of cities and towns, and a commitment to the revenue sharing system established by the voters through a series of initiative measures. The League’s highest honor goes to “Legislative Champions.” This year, they are: Representative Mark Cardenas (D‐19) Representative Doug Coleman (R‐16) Senator Lupe Contreras (D‐19) Representative Karen Fann (R‐1) Representative Jay Lawrence (R‐23) Representative Eric Meyer (D‐28) Representative Rebecca Rios (D‐27) Senator Bob Worsley (R‐25) Additionally, these legislators are being recognized as “Friends of Cities and Towns.” Representative John Christopher Ackerley (R‐2) Representative Lela Alston (D‐24) Representative Brenda Barton (R‐6) Representative Sonny Borrelli (R‐5) Representative Russell Bowers (R‐25) Representative Paul Boyer (R‐20) Representative Kate Brophy McGee (R‐28) Senator Olivia Cajero Bedford (D‐3) Representative Noel Campbell (R‐1) Representative Heather Carter (R‐15) Senator Andrea Dalessandro (D‐2) Senator Jeff Dial (R‐18) Senator Adam Driggs (R‐28) Representative Diego Espinoza (D‐19) Senator Steve Farley (D‐9) Representative Charlene Fernandez (D‐4) Representative Randy Friese (D‐9) Representative Rick Gray (R‐21) Senator Katie Hobbs (D‐24) Senator John Kavanagh (R‐23) Representative Jonathan Larkin (D‐30) Senator Debbie Lesko (R‐21) Representative Stefanie Mach (D‐10) Representative Debbie McCune Davis (D‐30) Representative Justin Olson (R‐25) Representative Lisa Otondo (D‐4) Senator Lynne Pancrazi (D‐4) Senator Steve Pierce (R‐1) Representative Frank Pratt (R‐8) Senator Martin Quezada (D‐29) Representative Bob Robson (R‐18) Representative Andrew Sherwood (D‐26) Representative T.J. Shope (R‐8) Representative Victoria Steele (D‐9) Representative Bob Thorpe (R‐6) Representative Kelly Townsend (R‐16) Representative Michelle Ugenti (R‐23) Representative Jeff Weninger (R‐17) Representative Bruce Wheeler (D‐10) “Cities and towns are where the economic activity of the state occurs and where nearly 80 percent of the people live,” said League Executive Director Ken Strobeck. “The state of Arizona is economically strong when its cities and towns are successful and when we work in partnership with state government to provide excellent services to our shared constituents,” he said. About the League: The League of Arizona Cities and Towns is a voluntary association of all the 91 incorporated cities and towns in the state of Arizona. It provides policy and legislative advocacy, information and inquiry services, along with publications and educational programs to strengthen the quality and efficiency of municipal government. It was founded in 1937 to serve the interests of cities and towns and to preserve the principles of home rule and local determination. #### .